goltermann



(No Model.)

A. V. GOLTERMANN.

PIRE ESCAPE.

No. 484,093. Patented oet. 11, 1892.

UNITED gSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADA V. GOLTERMANN, OF NEW YORK, vN.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent' No. 484,093, dated October11, 1892. Application iled December 26, 1891. Serial No. 416,152. (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom `t may concern:

Be it known that I, ADA V. GOLTERMANN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York city, in the county and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Escapes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved fireescape of that class in whicha seat is suspended and adapted to be lowered by the action of theperson occupying the same, said seat portion being adapted for use formen, women, and children; and the invention consists of a lire-escapewhich comprises a seat formed of a saddle, suspension-cords for thesame, and adjustable suspension-cords by which the seat is adjustedautomatically to the body of the person using the seat. The seat issuspended from a friction device that moves along a rope as the seatdescends, said rope acting in the nature of a brake, so as to govern thedescent.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view ofmy improved lire-escape, showing the same in use. Fig. 2

is a perspective view of the seat portion of.

the same, drawn on a larger scale. Figs. 3 and 4 are a side elevationand a vertical trans verse section on line et 4:, Fig. 3, of thelowering device for the brake-rope; and Fig. 5 is a bottom view of thesaddle of the seat portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the seat portion ofmyimproVedire-escape, which is formed of a saddle A', that is preferablymade of leather applied to end blocks a, of wood, iron, or othersuitable material, which blocks ct are connected by a centrallongitudinal right and left hand screw-rod a', that engages threadedapertures in said blocks and by which theV leather forming the saddlecan be stretched from time to time whenever it should get slack. Thesaddle A is suspended by means of double cords b h, which cross eachother at the under side of the saddle and which are attached by staplesb to the end blocks a, the two suspension-cords b b being spread apartat their upper ends by means ofk transverse pieces d, which are attachedby staples to the suspension-cords b b, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.Loops are formed by the suspension-cords b b above the crossstrips d d,said loops serving for the passage of the adjustable suspension-cord e,one end of which is attached to one end of the front cross-strip d or tothe upper end of one front suspension-cord b, then passed parallel withand below the front cross-strip d through a loop on the upper part ofthe other frontsuspension-cord b, then across throughrloops b3 on theupper end of one rear suspension-cord b, then upward and through aneyef, attached to the bottom of the friction device D, then downward andthrough a loop b4 on the upper end of afront suspension-cord b andparallel with and above the front cross-strip d through a loop b5 on theupper end of the other front suspension-cord b, then upward and throughthe second eye f, attached to the bottom of the friction device D, thendownward and through loops b6 on the upper end of the other rearsuspension-cord e, and then to the front, the free end of saidsuspension-corde being provided with a hook e or snap-hook that can beengaged with the loop e2, formed on that end of the cord e that isattached to the front cross-strip d or to the end of one ofthe frontsuspension-cords b, as shown clearly in Figs. l and 2. The multiplearrangement of loops above the rear cross-strips d is provided for thepurpose of producing a certain friction on the suspension-cord e as thesame adjusts itself to the weight of the person mounting on the seat.

The friction device D is composed of a boxshaped open frame providedwith two longitudinal rods g and a central longitudinal bar g below thesame. A brake-cord E is attached by a ring h to a fixed hook h at thetop part of the window-frame and is passed through a guide-hole of anupper stiffeningbrace D of the friction device D, then through a centralopening in the top part of the frame of the friction device and aroundone of the longitudinal rods g, then through a hole in the longitudinalbar g and around a grooved rounded portion 7c of the same, then upwardthrough a second hole in the bar g and over the second longitudinal rodg, and then in downward direction through a central opening in thebottom part of the friction device D, the brake-rope E being ofsufficient length to correspond to the distance of the window IOO fromthe ground, so that the seat can be lowered down along the same by meansof the friction between the brake'rope and the rods of the frictiondevice D.

The tire-escape is suspended, when not in use, from the hook h on thetop of the window-casing, the seat portion being preferably wrapped upin a suitable cover, so as to be folded up in the same on a small scale,and suspended from the upper part of the window-casing. When it isrequired for use, the cover is removed and the seat portion placed inposition near the sill of the window-casing. That end of the adjustablesuspension-cord which is provided with the hook e is opened, so that theperson who is desirous of using the Iireescape can readily place himselfastride of the saddle a.. The hook is then applied to the end loop e2 ofthe adjustable suspension-cord e, and then the full weight of the personis permitted to act on the seat by swinging away from the sill, so thatthe suspension-cord e adjusts itself and places the cross-strips d closeto the front and rear part of .the body, as shown in Fig. l. In thisposition the person lis securely suspended and can then readily lowerhimself by the brakerope. -On letting the brake-rope go a slow descentof the seat portion takes place as the friction device moves slowlyalong the brakerope. As soon as the brake-rope is pulled in downwarddirect-ion the descent is retarded f cr entirely interrupted. By thebrake-rope and the friction Adevice D the fire-escape is fully withincontrol of the party using it. As theseat portion can be readily used bymales and females and as the cross-strips are applied closely to thebody, a feeling of security is given, which is usually wanting infire-escapes of this class, so that women and children in most cases arenot able to use the same. The descent is controlled by the brake-rope,so

-that the lowering can be accomplished at a quicker or slower rate, asdesired by the occupant of the fire-escape. When it is desired to usethe tire-escape a second time, the same is pulled up again into thewindow, the friction device being moved along the brakerope before it isused again until it arrives near the suspension-ring. The seat is thenAoccupied again by the next party desiring to save himself from danger ofre, who lowers himself in the same manner as before described.

The seat portion is constructed either of double ropes or of bands made.of webbing,

while the adjustable cord is preferably made of a good stout rope. Thesaddle is made of leather, while the brake-rope must be a rope strongenough to support the fire-escape and the weight of the person on thesame. The fire-escape can be made at a comparativelysmall price and isadapted for the use of large apartment-houses, tenement-houses, hotels,factories, and similar buildings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a fire-escape, the combination, with a friction device anda seatportion formed ofV a saddle, of suspension-cords attached to said saddleand provided with cross-strips attheir upper ends, said suspension-cordsbeing provided with loops above said cross-strips, and adjustablesuspension-cords that are passed through the loops of thesuspension-cords and through eyes of the friction device, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination, with a seat portion composed of asaddle formed of leather and end blocks connected by a right and lefthand screw, of double suspensioncords extending across the under sideofthe saddle and attached thereto, cross-strips attached to the upper endsof the suspensioncords, which are provided with loops above saidcross-strips, and adjustable suspensioncords passing through the loopsabove the cross-strips, substantially as set forth.

3. In\a fire-escape, the combination, with a seat portion formed of asaddle, of suspensioncords attached to said saddle and cross-stripsVattached to the upper-ends of the front and rear suspension-cords,adjustable cordspassed through loops arranged in the stationarysuspension cords above the cross strips and through eyes at the bottomof the friction device, a friction device, and a brake-cord suspended bya stationary hook and passing through the members of said frictiondevice, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADA V. GOLTERMANN.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, I-I. GOLTERMANN.

IOO

